Volunteer drivers are needed to take people back to their homes after attending an evening social club at Hinckley’s Mencap hall in Hill Street.

Adults with learning difficulties aged from 18 upwards attend the Thursdays sessions, playing games and chilling out.

At the end of the evening, at 8.30pm, the club’s 17-seater minibus takes them back home, some to far-flung parts of the borough.

It returns to Hill Street at about 10.30pm.

Volunteer drivers are supported by volunteer escorts, who looking after the passengers en route.

While the escorts can be any age, the drivers must be between 21 and 70 and some are now becoming too old to continue.

The Mencap team is looking for new volunteer drivers, within the age range, with a clean, private driving licence and willing to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Mencap society secretary Kelly Emery said: “Some of our volunteers have been with us for 30 years and some are now approaching 70 or have already turned 70 so are no longer allowed to drive for us, which is why we are now short.”

Drivers work on a rota basis, being called on to drive once a month, unless there is a need to cover for illness or holidays.

The more volunteers on call, the less often each will be needed.

Every new volunteer driver will have a chance to travel alongside an existing driver for a night, to see exactly what is required and will have a chance to practice driving the minibus on their own, without passengers, to make sure they feel comfortable.

The most pressing need is for volunteers on a Thursday but more drivers would also be welcome on the rota for the Monday club, which is attended by a greater number of younger adults with learning disabilities.

Anyone interested in finding out more is asked to call Kelly Emery, society secretary, on Hinckley 637312 or to email hinckleymencap@talktalkbusiness.net